Racecards
16:00 Stratford
Scotts Decorators Merchants Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £6,500 added
- Form 2121F6
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up, took keen hold, hard driven after 6th, some progress soon after, soon beaten
- Form 211345
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey J W Farrelly
dropped in behind, never dangerous
- Form 5/324-52
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up, hampered 3rd, headway to go 4th after 6th, weakened 2 out
- Form 7-3107
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
made all, clear 2 out, ran on well flat
- Form 852-776
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J A Geake
- Jockey M Bradburne
mid-division when fell
- Form 13-563
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer W S Kittow
- Jockey D A Jacob
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, hung left from approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner
- Form 4/2210
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer C Von Der Recke
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, ridden after 6th, no impression
Young Yozza
33- Form 7-5681
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
held up in rear, behind from 6th, tailed off
- Form 645076
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, headway 5th, chased winner next, soon ridden, lost 2nd last, no extra
Court Alliance
343- Form 9P/0224-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey J M Maguire
chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 6th, well behind when pulled up
- Form 0-34043
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer P E Cowley
- Jockey S P Jones
chased winner, not fluent 2nd, lost 2nd 6th, soon weakened
Rawdon (IRE)
10- Form 0883
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in rear, good headway 6th, ridden and weakening when hit 2 out
- Form 900955
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey T Siddall
in touch, ridden approaching 6th, soon no impression on leaders
- Form 0/P-7090
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey W Marston
mid-division, raced keenly, ridden approaching 6th, weakened after
In depth
Verdict
Meersbrook makes his handicap debut here and is the tentative choice ahead of Truckers Delight and another unexpsoed sort Rawdon. Mersbrook has finished mid division in three novice hurdles to date, admittedly not racing with any great zest in these races. He did finish second behind The Tother One in a Chepstow bumper last year, the selection probably flattered to get so close to the winner on that occasion. The time of that bumper was good though and there was a long way back to the third. With many of these appearing to be on their true marks, he could just be one with improvement forthcoming. Truckers Delight was well backed to land a competitive handicap at Sandown last time out. He won his bumper over the course in impressive style, from the front on quick ground but has displayed a tendancy to think about things and connections have applied blinkers today. He could be very well handicapped and support again today must be noted. Rawdon is another who thinks about it but stayed on well at Warwick last time and has to be considered on that basis. Daraybad steps up in trip following a second at Southwell last time but has been edging up the weights despite not getting his head in front and the winner of that Southwell contest was well beaten at Sandown since. Mickmacmagoole was disappointing last time and has a stiff task off top weight here while Great Tsar hails from a yard who have made great strides in recent months and he makes his handicap debut. A case can be made for a number of these but Meersbrook could be well handicapped and is our choice.